Chapter 4 - Blue and Red Shadows
The police officer’s hand tightened on his holster as his gaze swept across the chaotic living room. He saw Clara curled on the floor surrounded by paramedics, Mark standing chest-to-chest with Julian, and Elena standing calmly near the bookshelf with her arms loosely uncrossed.
"Everyone calm down right now," the officer commanded, stepping fully into the room while his partner scanned the perimeter. "I'm Officer Vance. Who placed the emergency call?"
"I did," Mark said, his voice trembling with a mixture of adrenaline and rage. He pointed a shaking finger at Elena. "She just assaulted my pregnant wife. She pulled her to the ground by her hair. Look at Clara—she needs to go to the hospital immediately."
Officer Vance looked past Mark to the paramedics, who were carefully lifting Clara onto the stretcher. "Is she stable enough for transport?"
"We need to move her now," the paramedic replied, securing the straps across Clara's chest. "She's bleeding internally, or at least showing signs of acute trauma. We're losing precious time here."
"Hold on," Julian interrupted, stepping forward with his briefcase. He pulled out a laminated card and the stamped legal document. "Before anyone leaves, I am Officer Vance’s designated legal representative for this property. There is an active restraining order and a property dispute involving the injured party. She cannot leave with him."
Mark stared at Julian in absolute disbelief. "She's my wife! She's carrying my child! To hell with your paperwork!"
"Mr. Hayes, step back," Officer Vance warned, shifting his stance. "If there's a court-ordered injunction, we have to verify it before letting the transport leave the jurisdiction."
Clara let out a muffled sob from the stretcher, her hand reaching out toward Mark as the paramedics began wheeling her toward the front door. "Mark... don't let them take me. They're going to put me somewhere else."
"I'm coming with you!" Mark shouted, trying to follow the stretcher, but Julian stepped directly into his path, blocking the doorway with the heavy wooden frame of his briefcase.
"You aren't going anywhere, Mark," Julian whispered softly, just loud enough for only him to hear. "Check your phone. The ambulance isn't going to the county hospital."
May you like
Mark stopped dead in his tracks, his hand instinctively diving into his grey jacket pocket to pull out his smartphone as the front door slammed shut behind the medical team.
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